Reporting by Phone

To report an absence by phone: 877-638-1960

PLEASE NOTE, THE NEW ABSENCE REPORTING SYSTEM WILL RECOGNIZE YOUR CALLER ID AND VERIFY THE PHONE NUMBER WITH WHAT IS ON RECORD IN OUR STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (ALMA). IF YOU CALL FROM A NUMBER NOT LISTED IN ALMA, YOU WILL BE PROMPTED TO VERIFY YOURSELF.

The process to report an absence via your phone will be similar to the following example:

"Welcome to the School Messenger notification system for the Garnet Valley School District"

"If you are calling to report an absence, press 3"

"If (your child's name) will be absent, press 2"

"To enter an absence for today, press 1"

"To enter an all day absence, press 1"

"Please select an absence reason from the following list: press 1 for illness" - please note, the choices given for absences are directly related to the new Pennsylvania Truancy Law. If you feel the reason for your child's absence is not included in the list, please contact your child's school directly.

"You have indicated (your child's name) in (grade) at (school) will be absent all day on (date) for the following reason (reason)"

"If this information is correct and you want to update the attendance record now, press 1"

"Thank you, your absence update has been reported."


*Parents/Guardians may be required to send in a doctor's note for certain illnesses

*Parents will be required to send in a doctor's note if a student's absences exceed 10

*All "educational leaves" require prior administrative approval using the Educational Leave Form